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Amending Chapter 9-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Landlord and Tenant," requiring landlords to give tenants notice of alternative ways to meet tenant obligations to make security deposits; and by providing for certain landlord and tenant responsibilities related to the payment of rent and security deposits; all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 9-800 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9-800 LANDLORD AND TENANT
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? 9-804. Unfair Rental Practices.
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(11) Notice Requirement
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(c) Landlord Notice to Tenant of Alternatives to Paying the Full Amount of a Security Deposit. If a landlord requires a security deposit, the landlord shall offer, at the option of the tenant, one of the following rental security deposit alternatives: (i) rental security insurance; (ii) payment of the security deposit over a series of no less than 6 monthly installment payments, which installments shall be due on the same day as the monthly rent payment and which may be paid together with the monthly rent payment in a single transaction, absent separate agreement by the landlord and tenant; or (iii) payment of the full balance of the security deposit.
(.1) Prior to entering into a rental agreement, a landlord shall provide the tenant written notice of the available security deposit alternatives.
(A) A landlord and tenant may negotiate terms for rental agreements less than twelve months in length, including month-to-month rental agreements.
(B) A tenant is in violation of his or her rental agreement: (1) if he or she does not make payment of required insurance premiums; (2) fails to renew the security deposit insurance; or (3) fails to pay the balance of any security deposit.
(.2) If a tenant chooses to provide a security deposit, the landlord shall, at the time payment is received, provide the...
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